Diy tips to keep your car running smoothly:

You should also switch tires depending on the season. Regular tires are not safe during winter, and winter tires wear very fast during summer.

While oil manufacturers have claimed that their oil can last 10,000 miles, it is generally best to use the same oil for no more than 5000 miles to maximize engine reliability and efficiency over the long term.

Check the oil regularly, about once a week, and change the oil or have it changed when you reach the 4000-4500 mile limit or when the oil color changes to black and loses its viscosity.

Even a small pebble from the back of a gravel truck can damage your windshield.

Make sure your mechanic installs genuine brake pads. This is one part that you don't want to save money with.

Avoid running your battery down. Even with a jump start, it's hard on the battery. Batteries do eventually get old. A good battery would last between 35-50 months.

You can tell that your battery is dead if your car does not start in the morning, and when you put on the car headlights without starting the ignition, the lights are not as bright and luminous as they should be.

If you must replace your battery, make sure that your mechanic also checks the alternator and distributor to make sure that they are still functioning properly.

Coolant, power steering fluid, transmission fluid, windshield washer fluid, brake fluid, and other fluids need to be checked at a minimum of once per week.

Ask your mechanic to demonstrate the method to check these fluids. Most of the car fluids are easily accessible from under your hood and do not require special tools or disassembly of any part.

Car fluids are not expensive but the lack of any of them in your car can cause serious and expensive damage.

Make sure to check your headlights, taillights, reverse lights, and turn signals.

Notice where your headlights point and correct it if you know how or have it corrected as needed. They should be pointing down and towards the outside of the road, not straight out, up, or towards the center.

You can see the light pattern on the road ahead of you. Misaligned headlights can be distracting or hazardous to drivers ahead of you or in oncoming or adjacent lanes.

Make sure you replace the blades once a year before the rainy season. You can also replace the entire wiper assembly if needed.

If you do a lot of driving in wet weather conditions, you may also want to apply a water repellent treatment to your windshield.

Branded wipers are defiantly worth their cost, take my word for it, you don't want to experience that your-self on a rainy day.

If a mechanic isn't in the mood to give you two minutes to answer a question, I would suggest looking for another mechanic to handle your car troubles.

In the trunk (or whatever storage your car has) it is wise to keep some tools for checking the various fluids, tires pressure, and a flashlight specifically for maintenance uses and night problems.

If anything seems out of place, have it checked as soon as possible. An unusual smell, a new noise, a vibration, a new light on the instrument panel coming on, anything, have it checked!

As a driver, your responsibility is to maintain your car to be as safe as possible, for your sake, the sake of your passengers and the sake of those with whom you share the road.

Read your automobile owner's manual. It has lots of information specific to your car.

Track your mileage and fuel economy. Not only will you learn to save fuel and drive more moderately, but you will notice if something changes about your fuel efficiency.

A drop in miles per gallon can signal a maintenance problem. Track your oil changes in your mileage log, too.